WCCS represented at the 17th WFC Biennial Congress

 

Starting on October 12, 2023, our Director of Secretariat participated in the WFC’s 17th Biennial Congress hosted in Gold Coast, Australia. The overarching theme of the congress, “BeEPIC” — emphasising Evidence-based, person-centred, interprofessional, and collaborative approaches — encapsulated the essence of the event. The experience was truly enriching, featuring a diverse array of inspiring speakers and many thought-provoking presentations. With over 50 brilliant speakers and numerous breakout sessions, it was impossible to attend all of them, so consequently, we have highlighted her  favourites and provided brief insights into each presentation. 

• Dr. Elise Hewitt (USA) is the program director of the first online Master’s program in Integrative Pediatrics for chiropractors at Logan University, titled “Master of Science in Integrative Pediatrics. In her presentation, she discussed evidence-based musculoskeletal (MSK) care for paediatric health conditions, emphasising chiropractors’ unique role in advancing research in this field.  Key messages included the importance of modifying techniques appropriately, seeking additional paediatric training, and not to be afraid to adjust children. Noteworthy facts: Only 7 adverse events have ever been reported for paediatric patients in chiropractic care, showcasing our safety and effectiveness for children.

 

• Dr. Genevieve Keating (Australia) shared insights on infant chiropractic care, presenting her research findings from the 2019 Safer Care Victoria review in Australia. Her study delved into public opinions on chiropractic care for children, revealing a remarkable 99.6% positive response rate from 22,043 responders. Key takeaways include addressing postural asymmetry in all babies as early as possible to catch conditions like hip dysplasia, torticollis, and plagiocephaly before they become long-standing issues.

 

• Dr. Mark Charrette (USA) conducted a Technique Master Class on extremity adjusting protocols for the upper and lower limbs. He highlighted the essentials of extremity adjusting, emphasising its significance, and demonstrated a rapid adjustment of the entire foot in under 1 minute. Some key takeaway fun-facts about feet are: The most common subluxation pattern of the foot is excessive pronation. Most foot subluxations do not create foot symptomology and whatever one arch in the foot does, the other two do as well. Food for thought!

 

• Dr. Mufudzi Chihambakwe (Botswana) delivered a powerful presentation on providing people-centred care to underserved communities. He discussed the social determinants of health and emphasised global changes needed to ensure equitable access to chiropractic services. Dr. Mufudzi, president of the African Chiropractic Federation and clinic director of World Spine Care in Gaborone, Botswana, shared insights into fostering inclusive healthcare.

 

• Dr. Kristina Petrocco-Napuli (USA), Dean of the College of Chiropractic at Logan University, presented on “Chiropractic Approaches to Women’s Health & Wellbeing.” Key takeaways were: 99% of women’s (and all humans’) conditions are multifactorial, and there’s rarely a single cause. Post-COVID, women exhibit higher rates of drug abuse, misuse, and addiction, underscoring the need for awareness, identification of warning signs, ability of discussing those issues with patients and the importance of referring them appropriately.

 

• Dr. Josh Sweeny (USA) presented on the common concussion symptoms, covering the 5 areas of symptomatology (autonomic, cognitive, somatosensory/vestibular, psychological, and visual). He explored traditional and updated research, approaches to care, key rehabilitation concepts, and demonstrated assessment techniques. Emphasising the diverse nature of concussion, he stressed the need for individualised diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Sweeny’s presentation underscores the growing importance of education for chiropractors in this field.

The conference was an incredible experience filled with diverse and inspiring stories of people worldwide making a difference and expanding the impact of chiropractic care. We highly recommend exploring the speakers and others from the event to learn more about their topics and passions. Alternatively, experience it for yourself by attending the 18th Biennial WFC Conference on May 7-10, 2025, in Copenhagen, Denmark!